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New York City Approves Large Sugary Drinks Ban

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Frester

Member
I figured the ban was pointless because most places that serve fountain drinks give free refills, so it doesn't matter if the container is 2oz as long as you can refill it. Also, nanny state etc.

But my girlfriend (who happens to [sort of] work for the mayor) pointed out that it's essentially like raising taxes on cigarettes; if you insist on doing something that is bad for you, you'll have to pay more for it. And, in the soda case, it'll spark a larger conversation about portion control/size, etc. which most people are clueless about. So, I'm marginally for it I suppose. I barely drink any soda so it doesn't make a personal difference to me.
 
Soda prohibition!

new-york-city-bans-soda-over-16-oz-mountain-dews-art-response-1.jpg


This is really unbelievable. 10 years ago, if you said that governments were going to ban soda some day, people would have told you that you're a nutball and directed you to the tin foil hats. Now...
what's next?
 
I figured the ban was pointless because most places that serve fountain drinks give free refills, so it doesn't matter if the container is 2oz as long as you can refill it. Also, nanny state etc.

But my girlfriend (who happens to [sort of] work for the mayor) pointed out that it's essentially like raising taxes on cigarettes; if you insist on doing something that is bad for you, you'll have to pay more for it. And, in the soda case, it'll spark a larger conversation about portion control/size, etc. which most people are clueless about. So, I'm marginally for it I suppose. I barely drink any soda so it doesn't make a personal difference to me.

Why don't they raise taxes on soda to institutions that give free refills? Because in those places, thesoda in the tank is literally like 10 cents cost.
 
I spit out my coffee because its so true. Theres this push to make us all eat healthy but then you go to the supermarket and anything considered healthy is expensive.

dude i can go into my corner store and get a giant texas size serving of cheeseburger and fries with a can soda for $4. it costs me almost $10 for some grilled chicken and frozen vegetables.

a few years ago i was able to eat well for cheap but food prices have gone up a whole lot, almost double.
 

Eidan

Member
This is a great move. I'd say I'm surprised that so many people oppose it, but if everyone weren't willing to fight tooth and nail to protect their Big Gulp 7-Ups, the move wouldn't be necessary.
 

Nert

Member
Wouldn't limiting alcohol sizes sold at a 7-11 be more helpful? I mean it's odd that 40oz's of PBR are fine (and which I had no clue existed till living in Brooklyn, but much like glass bottle PBRs, they do exist), but 20oz soda is the issue? I'm not arguing about booze, just about what seems like the bigger issue in terms of health (if you think it's a problem) because of the non-health effects of it. Truthfully as someone growing up in PA, I even at a beer distro store or places selling bottles, I never even saw 40s. I assume like beer with more than ~20% Alcohol content it's not legal. Getting used to beer at the corner store in Park Slope...which is at near 14th and 15th St and is run by some fucking really great guys, was always a bit of a surprise (hell the fact LIRR sells booze and NJT lets you get blasted is kind of interesting). The 40oz's at 7-11 even more.

I was simply responding to your statement that there wouldn't be *any* benefit to adopting the policy. Unless you're attempting to argue that lowering soda consumption would not be beneficial from a public health perspective, I'm not sure what you're getting at here.
 

Kamek

Member
A bit intrusive, but doesn't affect me at all. If I do buy soda, which is rarely, I get the smaller sizes.

I'll still get the same bottle as I always do from the bodega if I decide to drink a coke.
 

KingGondo

Banned
I spit out my coffee because its so true. Theres this push to make us all eat healthy but then you go to the supermarket and anything considered healthy is expensive.
Produce, whole grains and lowfat dairy products aren't expensive.

The problem is that the American consumer's perception of "value" when it comes to food is completely fucked up.

A 2-liter bottle of Coca Cola and a gigantic bag of Fritos for under $5="cheap"
A shopping basket of fresh fruit, vegetables, rice, and healthy protein for $10 (enough to feed a family and have leftovers)="expensive"
 

Frester

Member
Why don't they raise taxes on soda to institutions that give free refills? Because in those places, thesoda in the tank is literally like 10 cents cost.

Even though the profit margin for soda is something outrageous like 90%, I'm sure all those businesses would pass on the tax increase to the customer. So, you'd still be in the same situation.
 

Angry Fork

Member
Wouldn't limiting alcohol sizes sold at a 7-11 be more helpful? I mean it's odd that 40oz's of PBR are fine (and which I had no clue existed till living in Brooklyn, but much like glass bottle PBRs, they do exist), but 20oz soda is the issue? I'm not arguing about booze, just about what seems like the bigger issue in terms of health (if you think it's a problem) because of the non-health effects of it. Truthfully as someone growing up in PA, I even at a beer distro store or places selling bottles, I never even saw 40s. I assume like beer with more than ~20% Alcohol content it's not legal. Getting used to beer at the corner store in Park Slope...which is at near 14th and 15th St and is run by some fucking really great guys, was always a bit of a surprise (hell the fact LIRR sells booze and NJT lets you get blasted is kind of interesting). The 40oz's at 7-11 even more.

This is partly why I don't think it does enough (if the intended goal is to be a nanny state for obesity). It needs to be done on a much larger scale in order to be effective. Banning multiple sizes or getting rid of Soda completely and from major stores/businesses not just movie theaters/restaurants. Getting rid of only 20 oz in certain areas is pretty silly/stupid on it's own imo.

Who says you can't? There are sex-related laws all over the country.

Because sex doesn't always lead to children and is a personal individual enjoyable thing people do that doesn't affect society on it's own. Your original point was about children being a struggle for society's resources. You can fix that without regulating sex but you used that inflammatory example to stir up emotions as if a totalitarian regulation of sex was even remotely possible right now. But even if it was possible it would be completely unnecessary since there are many other alternatives to population control.
 

Czigga

Member
I didn't make up the term. Look it up.

It's not "as far from libertarian as you can get." That would be banning the consumption of soda. This only bans certain elements on the supply side. A person is free to consume as much as they want. It shapes the consumption options (paternalism) while still allowing the consumer to choose whatever they want (libertarianism).

I can appreciate someone coined the term, but this doesn't fall into libertarian paternalism. Libertarian paternalism means I can opt out if I wanted to. Such as defaulting someone to be an organ donor when they get their driver's license, but I can opt out if I want to.

But it's a silly term anyway; it's still government coercion. But you can't even opt out of this. I can't buy a 20oz soda from a seller who wants to sell me a 20oz soda. That's not libertarian in any sense. You can try to use semantics and say I can buy 2 sodas, but the spirit of the law is still contrary to individual freedom.
 
The problem isn't the existence of large sodas--it's peoples' lack of self control. If people want to drink 32 oz of coke, they'll just have to buy two now.
 

Parallacs

Member
People tend to only purchase an item once, as to not appear gluttonous in front of peers.

Also, when I see a movie, I only get one cupholder. It would be funny to picture theatres putting rows of small cupholders on the arm-rest.

As for the Al Capone of soda, I think this would make a pretty funny sitcom.
 

Ovid

Member
Is part of the "root cause" not intake of ridiculous amounts of calories from soda by drinking it in excess?

Sounds more like that and less of a "scapegoat" as you put it.




Out of curiosity, how does it really hurt society (sans slippery slope argument)?
It hurts society because it sets precedent.

Will they ban cigarettes because it increases the likeliness of getting cancer?

That would save lives too.
 

Czigga

Member
Because sex doesn't always lead to children and is a personal individual enjoyable thing people do that doesn't affect society on it's own. Your original point was about children being a struggle for society's resources. You can fix that without regulating sex but you used that inflammatory example to stir up emotions as if a totalitarian regulation of sex was even remotely possible right now. But even if it was possible it would be completely unnecessary since there are many other alternatives to population control.

I agree with you totally. That was my point. Soda also doesn't always lead to obesity. There are also many alternatives to solve obesity without regulating how many ounces of soda someone can buy.
 

Eidan

Member
but you can still get any of these things. the only difference is that none of these cost $1.50?

http://fast-food-nutrition.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/530/media/images/Burger_King_BK_Quad_Stacker_1.jpg[/MG]

[IMG]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/11/13/pint_beer460.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://www.jdfoods.net/upload/1275510871-baconnaise%20mac%20and%20cheese%20balls.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Are you supporting restrictions on these as well?

Because I am.
 
Bloomberg is turning into a dictator. He also wanted to tone down NYC's bottle service for nightlife after the Drake/Chris Brown bottle fight. Trust me this wont stop at soda.

Oh yea, dude was also talking about banning happy hour.
 

tearsofash

Member
I used to drink very little soda. When I did, it would be only at fast-food where it came with food. Now I work at a gas station and the only thing I get are free fountain drinks. It tears me up inside, but I can't put them down. I know how bad they are for you. We sell several 1 litre drinks for 99 cents, and that just terrifies me.

I wish more states and cities would pass a law like this, honestly.
 

Ovid

Member
The restrictions would not affect fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; no-calorie diet sodas would not be affected, but establishments with self-service drink fountains, like many fast-food restaurants, would not be allowed to stock cups larger than 16 ounces
What!? Seriously!? Those beverages have just a much sugar as soda. This doesn't make sense.

Oh, I get it, one is carbonated and the other one isn't? What difference does that make.
 

hey_it's_that_dog

benevolent sexism
I can appreciate someone coined the term, but this doesn't fall into libertarian paternalism. Libertarian paternalism means I can opt out if I wanted to. Such as defaulting someone to be an organ donor when they get their driver's license, but I can opt out if I want to.

But it's a silly term anyway; it's still government coercion. But you can't even opt out of this. I can't buy a 20oz soda from a seller who wants to sell me a 20oz soda. That's not libertarian in any sense. You can try to use semantics and say I can buy 2 sodas, but the spirit of the law is still contrary to individual freedom.

You can still buy 20oz of soda. Just not everywhere. Just like you can't buy most things everywhere. I'm having a hard time sympathizing with your lack of choice in this scenario.
 

ced

Member
This is a great move. I'd say I'm surprised that so many people oppose it, but if everyone weren't willing to fight tooth and nail to protect their Big Gulp 7-Ups, the move wouldn't be necessary.

Your clearly missing the point, it's not about a sugar filled beverage.
 

FStop7

Banned

The watermelon and corn ones kind of bother me because they are falsely misrepresenting the content by putting cubes of white, refined sugar next to them. That is a far cry from the natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables in terms of healthiness.
 
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